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Bragi harnesses Audio Analytic technology

Cambridge-based Audio Analytic, a pioneer of sound recognition software, is incorporating its sound recognition capabilities into devices for German technology innovator Bragi.

Together they will unveil the world’s first audio context-aware earphones at January’s Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas.

The demonstration will show how Audio Analytic’s ai3™ sound recognition software and Bragi’s wireless Dash Pro earphones work to intelligently recognise that a conversation is underway and respond by automatically altering the volume and external sound transparency.

Bragi manufactures wireless earphones with sensors and intelligence that enable features including real-time translation, fitness tracking, music, and gesture controls. It is a pioneer in smart hearables.

The company manufactures wireless earphones with sensors and intelligence that enable features including real-time translation, fitness tracking, music, and gesture controls.

The Dash Pro earphones, launched this year, are Bragi’s latest model. Audio Analytic has developed technology that enables devices to detect and recognise a range of audio events and scenes in their environment, so that the devices can respond intelligently.

This sound recognition software is embedded on the device, not cloud based, so can rapidly and definitively identify sounds without internet connectivity.

Audio Analytic and Bragi have been collaborating to explore how sound recognition can add audio-based context awareness to make hearables fit into their users’ active lifestyles by adding further hands-free interaction to Bragi’s already inventive user interface, so that wearers don’t break their focus.

By only altering the music when the wearer sparks up a conversation with a running buddy or friend, the earphones help the wearer stay in whatever state of mind they are in, whether that is aiming for a new personal best on the bike or a chilled-out morning commute.

Beyond conversation detection there are many other applications in the hearables space. For example; knowing, via the surrounding acoustic scene, whether a runner is on an urban street or a country road could enable earphones to respond to hearing an approaching emergency vehicle by adjusting transparency settings to improve situational awareness.

Having proven the concept of enhancing hearables with artificial audio intelligence the two companies are continuing to explore other scenarios where identifying audio scenes or certain events can help customers seamlessly enjoy their music and activities whilst understanding the context that surrounds them.

Using this AI technology in hearables can reduce the need for touch controls, making the technology more intuitive and integrated with people and their lifestyles.

Dr Chris Mitchell, Audio Analytic’s founder and CEO said: “As you’d expect from an innovator in the hearables market, Bragi have been really open to the idea of exploring how sound recognition could enhance their products. Sound recognition is in many of 2018’s smart home devices but we see opportunities across a wide range of markets. Anywhere sounds either get in the way, are important or need enhancing, our technology adds considerable value.

“For us, the next logical step beyond smart homes is the fast-paced hearables market where audio experiences are fundamental, there is rapid development of new capabilities and where not needing a tether to the cloud is an advantage. I am delighted to be working with Bragi as they grow this market.”